The Bauchi State Government says it will distribute more than 1 million doses of anti-malaria drugs to residents to control the disease.

The Executive Secretary of the Control of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Malaria (BACTAMA), Dr Mansur Dada, said this while briefing newsmen on Monday in Bauchi.

Dada said the agency would between November and December distribute 1,519,680 doses anti-malarial drugs across 20 local government areas of the state.

He said that the agency had also concluded talks with healthcare givers on carrying out tests on clients with feverish conditions.

The scribe said that the exercise was being conducted by the state government in collaboration with the UK Department for International Development and Presidential Malaria Initiative.

“Henceforth, the agency has resolved with healthcare providers in the state that any suspected fever condition should undergo malaria test, as such 1,304,900 rapid diagnostic kits would be distributed across same facilities,’’ he said.

Dada said that the intervention was part of the state government’s commitments on the fight against malaria and also to reduce maternal and infant mortality as a result of malaria.

He said that the drugs would be distributed to 345 health facilities within 10 days.

Similarly, he said that the agency has inaugurated a 25-member committee to reassess the activities of the BACTAMA.

Dada said that the committee would be meeting every three months to review activities that would guide patients to access healthcare services.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee would be headed by the wife of the State Governor, Hajiya Hadiza Mohammed, with Dr Mansur Dada as Secretary.

Other members were drawn from donor partners, NGOs, community and religious leaders, among other stakeholders. (NAN)